Several employers providing essential services are making it easier for vulnerable people to stay home, but some of them are still choosing to work.

Employers that have the ability to let people work from home have been reporting helping both employees that are vulnerable — pregnant women, people over the age 65 and people with compromised immune systems — and aren’t vulnerable transition to doing so. But some vulnerable employees providing essential services can’t afford to take time off, so employers are making other changes, too.

At the county level, Humboldt County spokesperson Sean Quincey said protecting vulnerable employees can take several forms, such as “moving them to a different part of the office so they’re not in places where they interact frequently with the public.”

“It’s at the discretion of the department head,” Quincey said. “As long as they’re not putting them in scenarios that don’t put them at higher risk of contracting the virus.”

However, not all employees work in positions where they have the option to work from home or distance themselves from customers, such as grocery stores and other retailers.

Some companies, such as Target, have opted to let employees who are pregnant or 65 or older “to take a fully paid leave for up to 30 days,” according to information provided by a company spokesperson.

Not all businesses have the option to do that, however, but they’re taking other steps to protect employees, such as ensuring stores are thoroughly sanitized and limiting the number of customers in their stores.

Sean Nolan, general manager of North Coast Co-op, said the grocery store is granting leave to some individuals and has loosened its attendance policies during the outbreak. Gloves and masks have also been made available to employees, he said.

Gregory Fillmore, administrations officer for Eureka Natural Foods, said the grocery store is handling things on a case-by-case basis for employees who are at-risk.

Some employees are taking a leave of absence “for as long as they want” while others are opting to leave permanently, he said. Some are being laid off so they can collect unemployment as well, Fillmore said.

“We’ve had 30, 32 takers between both of the buildings,” Fillmore said.

Employees taking temporary leave are allowed to keep their discount cards and the grocer is continuing to pay for their insurance, he said.

“Our people who get sick are allowed to take as much time as they physically want,” Fillmore said, which is “above and beyond” what the state is recommending.

“We’re also giving full shifts if they need to come and pay their bills,” Fillmore said.